The annual Major League Baseball draft commenced on Sunday evening, with the Washington Nationals selecting Oklahoma high school shortstop Eli Willits as the third overall choice in franchise history. (The Nationals had previously selected pitchers Stephen Strasburg and Bryce Harper atop the 2009 and 2010 drafts, respectively.) The league collectively then made 104 additional selections on Sunday night before concluding for the evening.
In contrast to prior years, this year’s draft will only span two days instead of the usual three. Nevertheless, we here at CBS Sports are maintaining tradition by spotlighting a selection of the most promising players still available as the second day approaches. Understood? Excellent. Let’s continue.
2025 MLB Draft assessments: Eli Willits, unexpected Angels selection, Rockies social media presence, and highlights from Day 1
Mike Axisa
1. Mason Neville, OF, Oregon
Neville enjoyed an outstanding season for the Ducks, posting a .290/.429/.724 slash line with 26 home runs and 16 doubles across 57 games. Considering he is also an above-average athlete who played center field throughout the season, it may seem curious why he remains unselected. This is supposedly due to teams’ concerns regarding his inclination to swing and miss, which contributed to a 33.5% strikeout rate in 2024 and a 23.6% rate this year. His brief stint in the Cape Cod League, where he struck out 19 times in 32 at-bats, likely did not help his case. However, he is still expected to be chosen fairly early on Day 2.
2. Jack Bauer, LHP, Lincoln Way East HS (IL)
Bauer is a favorite among online prospect followers, primarily because of his name and the fact that he was recorded throwing up to 102 mph in a game earlier this year. He needs substantial improvement in his consistency, both in terms of location and the quality of his pitches. Nevertheless, some teams may be tempted to select him early on Day 2, as left-handed pitchers with such high raw velocity are rare.
3. Cameron Appenzeller, LHP, Glenwood HS (IL)
Appenzeller is a tall left-handed pitcher who appeared to make significant strides last season. Unfortunately, the improvements (especially in velocity) did not persist this spring, causing him to lose his projected first-round status. Appenzeller possesses a promising physique and has shown enough potential that a team might still select him early on Day 2, hoping to persuade him to forgo his commitment to Tennessee.
4. Nick Dumesnil, OF, California Baptist University
Here’s what we noted about Dumesnil when we identified him as a potential faller in the lead-up to the draft: “I don’t believe I am revealing any secrets by suggesting that players from smaller schools consistently operate with less margin for error than their counterparts from larger, more prominent programs. This applies to Dumesnil, who struggled to replicate his 2024 performance, during which he had one of the most productive individual seasons in the sport, considering both the regular season and the Cape Cod League. Dumesnil’s OPS and power output decreased from year to year, while his strikeout rate increased from 12.9% to 19.8%. To be clear: these statistics represent his overall numbers, not solely those from conference play. I am uncertain whether Dumesnil will fall as far as Mike Sirota did last summer, slipping to the third round, but I find it difficult to envision him being selected among the top 50 picks.”
5. Sam Horn, RHP, Missouri
Horn, who also plays quarterback for the Missouri football team, pitched a total of 15 innings for the Tigers during his college baseball career. This can be attributed to the Tommy John surgery he underwent in 2023, which sidelined him for the entire 2024 season. Despite this, he remains an intriguing prospect with significant potential, possessing key attributes such as size, arm strength, and above-average athleticism.
